Houston Chronicle - The second annual Houston Fine Arts Fair, a showcase for HoustonâÄôs art and cultural scene, opens at Reliant Center, September13, 2012. The fair features a cross-section of works in all media by modern and contemporary masters, mid-career artists, and emerging new talent from the US, Latin America and Europe.
L-R: Wayne Washburn, Emily Todd, Jim Nelson, Richard Lapin less

Houston Chronicle - The second annual Houston Fine Arts Fair, a showcase for HoustonâÄôs art and cultural scene, opens at Reliant Center, September13, 2012. The fair features a cross-section of works in all ... more

Photo: Bruce Bennett

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Shel and Clayton Erikson

Shel and Clayton Erikson

Photo: Bruce Bennett

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Sonja Roesch, left, and Ariane Roesch

Sonja Roesch, left, and Ariane Roesch

Photo: Bruce Bennett

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Adam and Brittany Branscum

Adam and Brittany Branscum

Photo: Bruce Bennett

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Janet Hobby, from left, Marshal Lightman, Fran Kaufman and Melissa Grobmyer at the Houston Fine Art Fair's Big A$ Breakfast at the Glassell School of Art on Sept. 15.

Janet Hobby, from left, Marshal Lightman, Fran Kaufman and Melissa Grobmyer at the Houston Fine Art Fair's Big A$ Breakfast at the Glassell School of Art on Sept. 15.

Executive director Rick Friedman, creative consultant Fran Kaufman and local advisers Melissa Grobmyer and Janet Hobby were beaming as exhibitors, collectors and artists congratulated them on the fair's smart layout, mix of booth types (for internationally known galleries as well as emerging spaces) and diverse, quality offerings.

For some, long bar lines were the only beef about the return of one of the biggest art fairs.Barbara Davis was among those applauding the move to Reliant Center from the George R. Brown. "It feels so much more 21st century," she said.

"It's about time we have something like this," said Lucinda Loya, who frequents major fairs such as Art Basel Miami and the New York Armory Show. Loya and her husband, Javier Loya, were among the crowd of about 3,000 on opening night.

A stellar crowd of visiting dealers and VIP collectors were wined and dined for days during a slew of private parties dubbed ArtWeek that took them from prime venues such as the Asia Society Texas Center to posh private homes. And the festivities weren't just for night crawlers.